Handbag and similar portable enclosure



:Mach 30, 1943. E. J. VAN lsEGHEM 2,315,169

HANDBAG 'AND SAIMILAR PORTABLE ENCLOSURE Fuga April 1v. 1942 Patented Ivar. so, 194s HANDBAG AND SDWILAR PORTABLE ENCLOSURE Edmond J. Van Iseghem, Overland, Mo., assigner of one-half to Hall W. Whiteaker, Clayton,

Application April 17, 1942,*Serial No. 439,351

(Cl. 24U- 6.45)

6 Claims.

This invention relates to handbags and similar portable enclosures; and has special reference to means for illuminating the inside of handbags and the like when they are opened to vafford access to the contents.

Objects oi the invention are to equip a ladys handbag or other portable enclosure with means for illuminating the inside of the bag or-enclosure when it is opened; to provide lighting equipment in connection with at least one of the hinges of a handbag or portable enclosure whereby the inside of said. bag or enclosure may be illuminated by a lamp supported therein automatically and as an incident to the opening of the bag or enclosure; to provide means whereby the lighting equipment may be disabled or prevented from operation so that the handbag may be opened without energizing or lighting the lamp when no artificial illumination is needed; and to provide alternative sources of electrical energy controlled by a single switch for lighting the inside of the handbag or enclosure when opened, so that, when either oi" said sources becomes incapable of functioning, the other may be used.

Another object oi' the invention is to provide an improved automatic switch for the electrical circuit controlling the lamp whereby the lamp will be turned on or energized automatically and as an incident to opening the handbag or enclosure and turned oi automatically andas an incident to the closing of said handbag or enclosure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved coin holder, or more than one coin holder if desired, within the handbag or enclosure, which holder or holders are capable of use for supporting coins conveniently accessible to the user when the handbag or enclosure is opened. Said holder or one of said holders may be usefully arranged in cooperative association with the switch whereby the lamp'is automatically energized or lighted when the handbag or enclosure is opened; or said holder or holders may be 'arranged independently and apart from said switch if desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handbag or other portable enclosure supporting a lamp for lighting the interior, the entire structure being durable and efficient in use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being made to the annexed drawing, in

whichl Fig. l is a side elevation of a handbag or portable enclosure having my invention embodied therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the handbag or portable enclosure open to aiord access to the contents.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View of the electrical equipment for energizing the lamp which lights the inside of the handbag.

Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation of one of the hinges of a handbag or like portable enclosure showing one form of automatic switch in connection therewith.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. fi, the handbag being open and the coin holder shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one oi" the automatic switch contact members.

The handbag or portable enclosure i may be of conventional or other preferred construction having one electrically conductive frame 2 pivotally connected with a cooperating frame 3. As shown and as is well known, said frames 2 and 3 are pivotally connected at opposite ends and are attached to the side walls of the handbag or enclosure for swinging movements from closed position (Fig. 1) to open position (Fig. 2), and vice versa. The walls of the handbag or the like may be made of leather or other appropriate material capable of use for such purposes.

In the embodiment shown, a support 4 is secured within the bottom oi the handbag or the like, being covered and enclosed by the lower wall portion 5 thereof and having its inner side covered or enclosed by the handbag lining 6. The ends of the support 4 may be completely covered and enclosed, or uncovered and made accessible, by means oi naps extending from connection with the wall of the handbagfor detachable engagement with the lower portion 5 by means of fasteners 8. The fasteners 8 may be of the conventional glove fastener type, or of other construction as desired.

In the specic embodiment shown, which may be varied as desired, one end of the support 4 is formed with a hollowed-out compartment 9 containing removable and replaceable electrically charged batteries lil. The batteries are 'in electrical contact and the outer end of one of said batteries is engaged by an electrically conductive movable holder Il having electrical connection I2 with a switch contact I3. The inner or positive end of the other battery has electrical connection I4 with a terminal l5 mounted in an insulating element I6. The element I6 is rotatively mounted on a pivot I1 functioning as a-pivot connecting the frame members 2 and 3.

metallic lamp socket 21. ywhen the lamp 25 is mounted -in its socket 21,

The pivot I1 is attached to one of the frame members for turning movements thereby when the handbag is opened or closed, and the other frame member is rotatively connected with said pivot for turning movements relative thereto.

In the specific arrangement shown, the pivot I1 is attached to the frame member 3 for turning movements thereby when the handbag is opened or closed, and the frame member 2 is pivoted on said pivot I1 for relative turning movements. This arrangement may obviously be varied as desired.

The element I6 is attached to the frame member 2 by a pin I8, so that said element I6 is moved by the swinging movements of the frame member 2. An electric switch member I9 is attached to the inner end of the pivot I1. The element I6 is actuated along the pivot I1 toward the switch member I3 by a spring .20 mounted between said support I6 and the adjacent frame 2 which is -hinged on the pivot I1 as described. The terminal I extends .toward the conductor I9 and, when the handbag orpurse is closed, projects intoa recessZI in the conductor I9. Thus, when the twoframe members 2 and 3 are adjacent to each other, which is to say when the handbag is closed, the terminal I5 is out of contact with the conductor I3 and the circuit is open. When the frames 2 and 3 are swung apart, which Ais to say when the handbag is opened, the element I6 and the 'conductor I3 are turned relative to Aeach other after a slight movement of said frames 2 and 3, or either of them, toward open position, and contact of the terminal I5 with the conductor I5 is thereby established. In this Way, velectrical communication from the Abatteries Illtothe frame members 2 and. 3 is established. When the handbag is closed, theterminal I5 vand the conductor I9 Vare moved out of contact withv each other'and` the Vcircuit from isopened.

A conductor 22-leads-from electrical connection with a switch 23 to electrical communicathe battery I Il to the frame 2 tion withvone end of the lament 24 of an elec- Y tric lamp 25.

The switch 23 is movable intoand out of engagement with the contact I3 to close and open the circuit therefrom to the lamp illament. The opposite end of the lamp lament is in 'electrical communication with the -frame member 2 through a metallic support 25 and a This is to say that,

one end of the filament 24 is in electrical communication with the frame 2, the other end of said filament remaining in electrical communication with the conductor 22. The support 26 is `mounted for swinging movements on a pivot 28 carried by a metallic support 29 attached to the frame 2 and having Aelectrical communication therewith so that one end ofthe lamp filament 24 is -grounded on the frame 2.

If ,desired, a hollowed-out compartmentv `30 complementary to the compartment 3u/nay be provided in the opposite end of the-support 4 for holding removable and replaceable `batteries 3I like thebatteries I-U. inner battery 3l may be in electrical-communication with4 the connection I4,V and the -outeror negative end of theother `battery 3l may have electrical connection 32 with a switch terminal 33. .'Ihus, vby moving the switch `23 intocontact with the terminal 33, the` batteries 3I vmay -be yusedwhile thebatteries III remainV unoperated ,or .out;of use;l and, 4by moving the switch V23 The positive end-of the from the contact 33 into engagement with the contact I3, the batteries I0 may be used while the batteries 3| remain out of use. In either case, the electric lamp may be energized and lighted when the handbag is opened. However, the switch 23 may be moved to an intermediate or oi position out of engagement with both contacts I3 and 33, leaving the handbag free to be opened without lighting the lamp.

The opposite ends of the frames 2 and 3 are connected by a pivot 34 in axial alinement with the pivot I1, as is usual. If desired, a coin holder may be attached to either oney or to each of the pivots I1 and 34. Such a coin holder may comprise a cylinder 35 rigid with either or with each pivot I1 and 34 and having its inner end open and formed with a coin receiving slot 36. A spring 31 is mounted in each cylinder 35 between a movable end wall 38 and the conductor I9 which forms the bottom wall of the cylinder. Coins may be mounted in and removed from the cylinder 35 through the slot 36 pressing the end wall 38 outwardly and compressing the spring 31. The coins may be conveniently removed from the cylinder 35 through the slot 36 by slight lateral pressure applied to the respective coins by the finger of the user.

It is obvious that theuse of either one or both of the coin holders is optional and that .they may loe-omitted if desired without departure from that part of the invention including the lighting device, and vice versa.

lFrom the foregoing, it is apparent that my invention attains all of its intended objects and Ypurposes lvery efficiently-and satisfactorily. The vlamp-25 being mounted Von the pivot 23, may be turned in either ldirection to illuminate any part` of the insideY of the handbag, or even to light vany adjacent external object. When the switch 23 is -in either of its closed positions, the opening of the handbag automatically energizes and lights the lamp when the handbag is opened, andautomatically deenergizes and extinguishes the lamp when the handbag is closed. Further, when the switchf23 is in its open position, the handbag may be opened and closed without turning the lamp onor oil. The construction and .arrangement of the parts comprising the invention may be -varied widely within the scope Aof equivalent -limits Ywithout departure from the nature and -principle thereof.

I claim:

l. In a handbag having walls forming an enclosure and movable ktoward and from each other to close and open the handbag, and frames attached to saidwallsv for swinging movements toward and from each otherwhen the handbag is closed and opened; a pivot attached' to one of said frames for `turning movements thereby when the handbag is closed or opened and having pivotal connection with the'other one of said frames, an insulating Velement supported by said pivot for turning movements about saidV pivot, means lconnecting said element with' that one of said frames having pivotal connection with said pivot for turning said element about said pivot when the handbag is closed or opened, an electric terminal carriedubyr said element, a battery having elect-rical-connection with said terminal, a switch member attachedV to said pivot and movable by the-relative'turning movements of said pivot and said-element into and out'of contact with said terminal lfor establishing and breaking electrical communication between said contact and said lframes when the 4handbagis opened and closed respectively, an electric lamp having electrical communication with one of said frames, and an electrical connection from said battery to said lamp.

2. In a handbag having walls forming an enclosure and movable toward and from each other to close and open the handbag, and frames attached to said walls for swinging movements toward and from each other when the handbag is closed and opened; a pivot attached to one of said frames for turning movements thereby when the handbag is closed or opened and having pivotal connection with the other one of said frames, a switch member rigidly attached to said pivot for turnnig movements thereby when said pivot is turned by closing or opening of the handbag as aforesaid, an electric terminal supported by and insulated from said pivot -for movement into and out of contact with said switch member when the handbag is opened and closed respectively, means attached to said frame that has pivotal connection with said pivot for moving said terminal relative to said switch member and thereby engage said terminal with said switch member by and during movement of said frames to open the handbag and disengage said terminal from said switch member by and during movement of said Iframes to close the handbag, an electric lamp supported within the handbag and having electrical communication with one of said frames, Y

and means having eelctrical connection with said lamp for energizing said lanrp when said terminal and said switch memlber are moved into contact with each other as aforesaid.

3. In a handbag having walls forming an enclos-ure and movable toward and from each other to close and open the handbag, and frames attached to said walls for swinging movements toward and from each other when the handbag is closed and opened; a pivot rotatively connected with one of said frames and rigidly attached to the other of said frames, a switch member rigidly attached to said pivot for turning movements thereby when said frames are relatively moved during opening and closing of the handbag as aforesaid, an electric terminal supported by and insulated from said pivot for movement into and out of contact with said switch member when said frames are moved to open and close the handbag as aforesaid, means attached to said frame that has rotative connection with said pivot for moving said terminal relative to and into and out of engagement wtih said switch member by and during movement of said frames to open and close the handbag respectively, an electric lamp supported within the handbag and having electrical communi-cation with one of said frames, and means having electrical connection with said lamp for energizing said lamp when said terminal and said switch member are moved into contact with each other as aforesaid.

4. In a handbag having walls forming an enclosure and movable toward and from each other to close and open the handbag, and frames attached to said walls for swinging movements toward and from each other when the handbag is closed and opened; a pivot rotatively connected with one of said frames and rigidly attached to the other of said frames, a switch member rigidly attached to said pivot Ifor turning movements thereby when said frames are relatively moved during opening and closing of the handbag as aforesaid, an electric terminal supported by and insulated from said pivot for movement into and out of contact with said switch member when said frames are moved to open and close the handbag as aforesaid, means attached to said frame that has rotative connection with said pivot for moving said terminal relative to and into and out of engagement with said switch member by and during movement of said frames to open and close the handbag respectively, an electric lamp supported within the handbag and having electrical communication with one of said frames, means having eleotrica1 connection with said lamp for energizing said lamp when said terminal and said switch member are moved into contact With each other as aforesaid, and a manually operable switch device `,controlling electrical energization of said lamp when said terminal and said switch member are in contact with each other.

5. In a handbag havin-g twoY walls forming an enclosure and movable toward and from each other to close and open said enclosure, an electrically conductive frame attached to one of said walls for moving the same as aforesaid, a cooperative frame attached to the other Wall, a pivot rotatively connected with one of said frames and rigidly attached to the other, a lamp having a lament in electrical communication with said rst frame, a battery supported by said walls and having electrical connection with said lament for energizing said filament when said rst frame is in electrical communication with said Ibattery, a switch member attached to said kpivot and movable thereby into and out of electrical communication with said battery, and an insulating element attached to and operated by said first frame, a terminal having permanent electrical -connection with said battery and carried and operated by said element for making and breaking electrical communication from said switch member to said battery to energize said lamp when said frames are swung apart to open the handbag and deenergize said lamp when said frames are moved to closed position.

6. In a handbag having two walls forming an enclosure and movable toward yand from each other to close and open said enclosure, an electrically conductive frame attached to one of said Walls yfor moving the same as aforesaid, a cooperative frame attached to the other wall, a pivot rotatively connected with one of said frames and rigidly attached to the other, a lamp having a filament in electrical communication with said rst frame, a battery supported .by said walls and having electrical connection with said lament for energizing said filament when said first frame is in electrical communication with said battery, a switch member attached to said pivot for movement thereby, a terminal having permanent electrical connection with said battery, an insulating element attached toand operated by that said frame which has rotative connection with said pivot, and a terminal having permanent electrical connection with said battery and carried and operated by said element into and out of contact with said member for making and breaking electrical communication from said member to said battery and energizing said lamp when said frames are swung apart to open the handbag and deenergizing said lamp when said frames are moved to closed position.

EDMOND J. VAN ISEGHEM'. 

